Visalia Smooth Dancers
Ballroom dancing since 1975
Endless Summer Dance Party
beats 100-degree-plus weather
Michelle takes sign-ups for
dance and costume contests
George wins 1st Place in men's costume
Table centerpiece
George Emily
Michelle takes a table selfie
Photos by Lewis Griswold, Michelle Peters, Somjai Cochran
Laura Tamara
Lew Joann
Sue and Carol greet arrivals
Michelle reviews dance contest plans with Tom and Sue
Greg drops in
Sallie and Margaret visit
Ed Linda Chris
Kay from Bakersfield
Linda and Johnny
Cheryl models iconic beachwear
Lyrics to summer hit song of 1960
Dance friends visit - Carol, Cheryl, Sue, Margaret
Jeff and Heidi from Fresno
Roberto greets fellow Fresno dancers
Contest winner Ahmed
Contest winners Emily and George
Contest winner Somjai the mermaid
Dance friends Michelle, Ahmed, George, Emily
Queen Laura and David
The Jerusalema
Dean leads us through the Jerusalema line dance
Video of Jerusalema line dance ▲ Click 🎵 for sound
Somjai Cheryl Laura
Larry
Laura David Susan
David and Carol
Sally and Nancy
Eugene
Danny Robin Laura
Carolyn and Carol
Tamara and Somjai
ready for the beach
Colleen
The Dance Floor
Susan Randy
Somjai Joaquin
Robin Margaret
Ruth and Roberto
The Committee
Co-chairs: Carol Abeyta and Laura Boland
Members: Michelle Peters, Emily McIntosh, George Ibarra, Sue and Tom Giampietro, Dean and Cheryl Levitan (DJ), Danny Boland
The Dance Report
Endless Summer Dance Party
It may have been hot outside, but inside, the Endless Summer Dance Party was cool, lively, and full of fun!
The beach patrol team of Carol Abeyta and Sue Giampietro were kept busy at the guard station as about 75 dancers arrived for the monthly dance social held Aug. 8, 2026 at the Exeter Veterans Memorial Building. Guests were greeted by our colorful Endless Summer poster and our brave lifeguard Michelle Peters, who was on duty taking sign-ups for the dance and costume contests. The good vibes continued with great food, endless ice cream sundaes with a mountain of toppings, and plenty of rockin’ beach music.
Beach Boys classics and other great tunes spun by our talented DJ Cheryl Levitan kept everyone on the dance floor, where people showed off their best moves. Eileen got everyone moving with a fun single-step swing lesson, giving everyone a chance to learn something new and then try it out on the dance floor.
The costume contest brought out plenty of creativity — from cartwheels to dancing with a boogie board! Expert judging of the contests was provided by Dean Levitan, Susan Morelock, and Eileen Chavez.
– George Ibarra took first place in the costume contest with his perfect combo of shorts, shirt and hang-five attitude.
– Jeff Jackson and Heidi Hagopian from Fresno won first place in the dance contest.
-- Somjai Cochran took first place in female costume for her mermaid suit.
The results:
Dancing
1st place Jeff Jackson and Heidi Hagopian
2nd place Kelly DaFonte and Randy Bardone
3rd place Emily McIntosh and George Ibarra
Female Costume
1st place Somjai Cochran
2nd place Tamara Galli
3rd place Kelly DaFonte
Male Costume
1st place George Ibarra
2nd place Ahmed Bahar
3rd place Randy Bardone
And thanks to our wonderful dance instructors Eileen, Franco, and Susan, we had some awesome door prizes for our lucky winners.
So while the temperature outside may have been sizzling, there was dancing, laughter, great music, good food, and just an all-around happy vibe. Thanks to everyone who came, danced, laughed, competed, cheered, and helped make our Endless Summer Dance Party such a success. It was one hot night we’ll be happy to remember!
Thanks also to our talented and energetic crew led by chairpersons Carol Abeyta and Laura Boland, Danny Boland, Tom and Sue Giampietro, Emily McIntosh, Michelle Peters, George Ibarra, Dean Levitan and DJ Cheryl Levitan.